Editor’s note: This February, we are praying for Kunming, China “Spring City.” Kunming is known in China as a beautiful and easygoing city, full of ethnic minorities and far from the stress of urban life on China’s east coast. Today, four house church pastors share how they have seen the city change over the past five years. One big change is that the church has been scattered, and it is now unusual to find large church meetings. Another issue is Kunming’s ongoing struggle with corrupt officials, which has retarded the city’s growth. Other pastors discussed how they have seen Kunming churches take a deeper look at theology, and the benefits and challenges that come with this increased focus on theology.
“The Church Has Dispersed”
China Partnership: How has Kunming changed in the past five years? How has your church changed during that time?
Wu Yexin: The biggest change is that the church has dispersed. Gatherings have not been allowed because of government directives. What was originally one church has split into many locations. Our church split into several different locations with 10 or 20 people in each place. Some of those groups meet in homes.
This dispersal has brought about many problems. It’s difficult for the church to function normally, and interactions among brothers and sisters have greatly decreased.
Corruption in the City
Ou’yang Qiang: For Kunming residents, the biggest impression over the last five years has been major infrastructure projects, large-scale demolition and construction, and a lot of corrupt officials.
Nationwide, it seems Yunnan Province has had more corrupt officials than anywhere else. Because of corruption – since officials were constantly changing, coming and going – policies changed all the time, and the city couldn’t develop. Businesses in Kunming couldn’t operate normally, and there were fewer and fewer job opportunities, and so the economy is now very depressed. Incomes in Kunming are low, but the cost of living is high. This is what we see outside.
Yunnan Province has had more corrupt officials than anywhere else.
On a spiritual level, in the past five years (based on churches I’ve been in contact with) many traditional house churches have started studying Reformed theology. The result is people have a lot of theology, but not the life to receive it. The main result of this study is they become more self-righteous or prideful. On stage, they talk a lot about theology without focusing on preaching the Bible. It’s as if theology has surpassed the Bible. This is a crisis. Study is good, but it takes times to digest theological ideas.
Another thing is the dispersal of the church. Churches in Kunming used to have large gatherings with hundreds of people. But with post-pandemic tightening of policies, many churches can’t gather openly. They can only meet in small groups. This led to the loss of many believers. Those who were timid or had weak faith were influenced by the environment. Many didn’t dare to continue attending gatherings. The wheat and the tares are being revealed.
Crisis Leads to Opportunity
Guan Ju: Kunming has a lot of corruption. Except for one governor, most of [Kunming’s leaders] got arrested. This brought some crises to the city – but I think these crises can be used by the gospel. When people fall into difficulties, they feel despair and confusion over life. This should be an opportunity.
Now people – in Kunming, the whole country, the whole world – are going downhill. This is also a potential opening for the gospel. The people around me, like those I meet at the gym, seem hopeless and lost and don’t know why they’re living. Wherever I go, I share the gospel. I see their confusion. Some are rich, but don’t know how to live, or want to go abroad. This is a gospel entry point.
I’ve been church planting for more than five years. During this time, our church has changed a lot. The first change was correct preaching of the gospel. Slowly, peoples’ lives became sanctified and more firm. I’ve seen that theology brings life. When someone truly understands theology, it is connected to life. Preaching is not just talking about the Bible – it’s preaching a way of life. The more balanced and mature a pastor’s life, the better he can apply the gospel he preaches to the congregation and live under Christ’s authority.
I am so thankful for our church, because my experience there has been unique. I’ve gone through a lot, and have come to understand the gospel more.
These crises can be used by the gospel. When people fall into difficulties, they feel despair and confusion over life. This should be an opportunity.
Our church has been protected in the last years, and we haven’t been impacted [by harshening regulations] or gone through a crisis.
The church is constantly purifying. Slowly, God is removing those who just hung around. Now, those who remain are stable. My prayer is for us to be a lampstand and witness for the Lord in this city.
In the crises of the economy and human confusion, I see gospel potential. Our church strives to live out God’s word, not just talk about theology.
“Wandering in the Wilderness”
Huang Gudai: Since Qiu He, the disgraced former Party Secretary, came to Kunming and took out huge loans for large infrastructure projects, Kunming and Yunnan Province’s government has been heavily in debt. In the end, the government owed a lot of money it couldn’t pay to the people who worked on those construction projects.
To make a livelihood, people have to do things like drive ride-share cars. The work environment is not good. Many young people can’t stay, and a lot of highly-skilled and educated people go to other regions for better development. But, in the past few years, Kunming’s tourism industry has recovered somewhat.
The church is constantly purifying. Slowly, God is removing those who just hung around. Now, those who remain are stable.
Church persecution here isn’t as intense as in Chengdu or Xiamen. We are grateful to the many churches who stood at the forefront and withstood pressure, because we gained a lot of space. Of course, this might also be because many policies are difficult to implement here.
Like other brothers mentioned, Kunming used to have many large churches. But the church has divided and disintegrated – for a lot of reasons, including pastors committing sins. Our church has gained members because of this.
Other pastors have left and gone abroad. We are asking God to raise up more preachers who are faithful to his word, for the needs of the churches and for ministry.
In the past five years, our church has had many new members. Others have left for various reasons: becoming weak and drawing back, or moving overseas because of the pressures of work, life, and raising children. (They have found and committed to good churches abroad.)
We don’t now have a set meeting place, but our church still gathers with a large group each week. You might say we are wandering in the wilderness, unable to settle down.
Wu Yexin, Ou’yang Qiang, Guan Ju, and Huang Gudai are pseudonyms for preachers and leaders at house churches in the southwest China city of Kunming.
Pray for the church in Kunming to shine brightly amidst the corruption and depression of the city.
